Written Answers Friday 6 August 2010

Scottish Executive

Central Heating

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what areas have been selected for the £10 million universal access scheme under the Home Insulation Scheme.

Alex Neil: The Universal Home Insulation Scheme Implementation Group, which I chair, has recommended that delivery of the scheme is led by local authorities. The Implementation Group, Scottish Government and COSLA have agreed and finalised the arrangements for the scheme, together with associated bidding guidance to assist local authorities and their partners in preparing bids. Bidding documents were issued to local authorities on 19 July 2010 and are due to be returned to the Scottish Government by 27 August 2010, following which assessment and area selection will take place.

Central Heating

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-30350 by Alex Neil on 15 January 2010, how many of the households that requested insulation measures through the Home Insulation Scheme have had these measures installed, broken down by local authority area.

Alex Neil: The table below sets out the number of households in the areas covered by the first phase of the Home Insulation Scheme that were referred under that scheme for insulation measures. The table also shows the number of those households referred under HIS which have had insulation installed under the scheme up to 4 July. Households receiving more than one insulation measure are counted only once. Installations of insulation measures based on referrals from the scheme are still continuing.

  All households referred for insulation measures under HIS should have such measures installed in due course providing that, following a technical survey their home is found to be suitable for the insulation measure proposed; the customer still wants the work undertaken and the installer is able to contact the customer to arrange to undertake the work, and, in cases where the householder is required to make a financial contribution, they are prepared to do so.

  A telephone survey based on 1,000 interviews in HIS areas identified 681 respondents which had received a home survey. Of these 33% had not yet proceeded to receive an installation. The main reasons given by the customer for not proceeding included: they already have insulation (18%); their home is not suitable (13%); a perception that they are not eligible (10%); they do not now want the insulation (9%); concerns about their financial contribution (9%), and they are waiting for the installer to contact them (7%).

  

 Local council within which HIS area is located
 Numbers of households for whom at least one referral for insulation under HIS was made
 Numbers of households with at least one insulation installation under HIS (up to 4 July)


 Orkney
 254
 152


 Highland
 1,445
 766


 Western Isles
 2,634
 1,362


 Angus 
 1,768
 780


 Dundee
 1,972
 859


 Glasgow
 2,297
 802


 South Lanarkshire
 295
 154


 Stirling
 2,425
 877


 Edinburgh
 1,619
 483


 Fife
 1,800
 674


 Total
 16,509
 6,909



  These figure do not include referrals for insulation from households in HIS areas to the Energy Assistance Package (EAP). Outcomes from the EAP are reported separately on the Energy Saving Trust website:

  http://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/scotland/Scotland-Welcome-page/At-Home/Energy-Assistance-Package/Programme-Statistics/Programme-Statistics-February-2010.

Communities

Michael Matheson (Falkirk West) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to extend the Wider Role Fund for a further year.

Alex Neil: The Wider Role fund for Registered Social Landlords will be considered in the work undertaken on the Scottish Spending Review.

Enterprise

Jeremy Purvis (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of the University of Strathclyde’s Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) 2009 report into business start-up rates.

John Swinney: The latest GEM report provides a useful contribution to our understanding of entrepreneurship, and the drivers and motivations behind entrepreneurial behaviour. The study aims to capture the level of entrepreneurial activity by surveying individuals about their intention or desire to start a business. On this measure, the GEM 2009 showed that Scotland’s entrepreneurial activity rate has fallen significantly by 18% over 2008-09. However, it should also be noted that the most recent GEM survey was conducted during a period of severe economic contraction, due to the global financial crisis. The decline in confidence to start up a business during this period is therefore not unexpected. As the report indicated, only 20% of individuals see opportunities, which was in line with the rest of the UK.

  Our official measure of business start-ups is the VAT/PAYE registration rate, which captures actual company activity.

Ferry Services

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding the competitiveness of the Scottish ferry industry.

Stewart Stevenson: There is regular liaison and discussion between the Scottish and UK Governments regarding a wide range of maritime matters, including the Scottish ferry industry.

Ferry Services

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken to improve and develop ferry links between Scotland and Ireland.

Stewart Stevenson: There are no ferry services operating between Scotland and the Republic of Ireland. However, there are three commercial services currently operating between Scotland and Northern Ireland, as follows:

  Stranraer to Belfast (operated by Stena Line)*

  Cairnryan to Larne (P & O Irish Sea Ferries)

  Troon to Larne (P & O Irish Sea Ferries).

  The A75 Cairntop to Barlae scheme, which is due for completion in October 2010, will see a new 1.4 mile stretch of dual carriageway. This will improve the access to and from Stranraer and Cairnryan in support of the above services. It will also support businesses, communities and tourism across Scotland.

  In addition, Scottish ministers remain supportive of the provision of a service between Campbeltown and Ballycastle in Northern Ireland in view of the benefits it will bring to the people across Scotland and Northern Ireland. Consideration is currently being given to the timing of further work on the re-establishment of this service. However, in view of the limited funding available for the route in the 2010-11 budget, it would be inappropriate to say when any tendering of the route could start.

  *Stena Line is planning to move its Belfast service from Stranraer to Old House Point, Loch Ryan. A Harbour Empowerment Order for the Loch Ryan Port has recently been approved by the Scottish Parliament which will enable Stena Line to develop and operate its new facility at Old House Point. In summary, the project will:

  trigger a £200 million investment by Stena (including two new vessels).

  safeguard around 500 port operation jobs (420 in Stranraer).

  create around 900 new jobs during the construction period (100 will be local).

  shorten the crossing time between Loch Ryan and Belfast.

  enable significant regeneration proposals for Stranraer.

NHS Staff

Margaret Curran (Glasgow Baillieston) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many posts have been removed in NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde since May 2007; how many posts are vacant; how long they have been vacant, and how many are in frontline services.

Nicola Sturgeon: This is a matter for NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde. The information requested is not held centrally.

NHS Staff

Margaret Curran (Glasgow Baillieston) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many posts in NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde have been subject to a change of qualification requirements since May 2007 and what those changes are.

Nicola Sturgeon: This is a matter for NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde. The information requested is not held centrally.

Planning

Jackson Carlaw (West of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how much has been spent on its Designing Streets initiative, broken down by item of expenditure.

Stewart Stevenson: The total expenditure on the development of the Designing Streets policy document is £113,868.

  Broken down by items of expenditure, this is as follows:

  

 Policy development
£99,875


 Design and publication costs
£12,742


 Management, web conversion, cataloguing and indexing
£1,251

Planning

Jackson Carlaw (West of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to take forward its Designing Streets initiative.

Stewart Stevenson: Designing Streets is Scottish planning policy and was published on 1 March 2010.

  Workshops are planned in the near future to assist local authorities with the interpretation and practical application of the design principles set out in the policy document.

Rail Network

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether, in relation to providing (a) compensation and (b) noise mitigation measures, it has taken the World Health Organization’s Night Noise Guidelines for Europe, published in 2009, into account when assessing the impact of noise on households along the Stirling-Alloa-Kincardine railway line and, if so, what assumptions it made in interpreting the guidelines.

Stewart Stevenson: The Rail Noise Assessment – Stirling – Alloa – Kincardine Rail Link Report published on 26 May 2009 were undertaken prior to the publication of the World Health Organisation Night Noise Guidelines for Europe. The WHO Night Noise Guidelines for Europe provides guidance on converting between noise metrics and mitigation thresholds reported are in line with the WHO Night Noise Guidelines for Europe. Claims for compensation, in relation to noise and disruption are considered under Part 1 of the Land Compensation (Scotland) Act 1973, and are managed by Network Rail. In determining claims Network Rail has taken into consideration the age and location of properties and it has been determined that only properties adjacent to the new railway line qualify.

Registrar General for Scotland

Stewart Maxwell (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when the Registrar General will publish his annual report for 2009.

Jim Mather: Scotland’s Population 2009: the Registrar General’s Annual Review of Demographic Trends is published today. The report contains information about births, deaths and marriages during the year, together with other demographic information. A copy of the report is available in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 51130), or from the Registrar General’s website at www.gro-scotland.gov.uk .

Scottish Futures Trust

Jeremy Purvis (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Scottish Futures Trust is generating its predicted savings of £100-150 million per annum.

John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-30424 on 15 January 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx .

Water Services

Jackson Carlaw (West of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the customer satisfaction rates for Scottish Water have been in each year since its inception, also broken down by local authority area.

Stewart Stevenson: The Scottish Government does not hold this data centrally. However, based on the overall performance measure, which covers a range of customer service measures, Scottish Water’s performance has improved dramatically since 2006. Scottish Water’s Annual Reports show that there has been an 80% improvement from 162 points in 2006 to 291 points by 2010 and that the customer satisfaction rate, which is measured independently twice a year, has increased to 82% by the end of 2009-10, an all time high in customers’ satisfaction with the outcome of their contact. More detailed information about Scottish Waters performance, including customer satisfaction rates, is available from Scottish Water and I have asked the chief executive to reply to you directly.

Water Services

Jackson Carlaw (West of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many gallons of mains water have been lost via leakage in each year since 1997, also broken down by local authority area.

Stewart Stevenson: Historically little attention was given to leakage. For that reason accurate figures are not available prior to 2006. However, in 2005-06 the Government agreed with the Water Industry Commission for Scotland (WICS) that leakage was a priority and required Scottish Water to make annual reductions. Scottish Water’s leakage has reduced from 1,104 million litres per day (ml/day) in 2005-06 to 704 ml/day in 2009-10. More detailed information about levels of leakage is available from Scottish Water and I have therefore asked the chief executive to reply to you directly.

Water Services

Jackson Carlaw (West of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the average annual (a) household and (b) business water charges have been in each year since 1997 in (i) cash and (ii) real terms, also broken down by local authority area.

Stewart Stevenson: Prior to 1996, charges were set by the regional councils. Following the formation of the three water authorities in 1996, charges were harmonised within each authority over a period of several years. Following the formation of Scottish Water in 2002, charges were then harmonised across Scotland over three years so that by 2004-05 charges for all customers were set at a nationally averaged rate for Scotland as a whole. The number of customers of each water authority is not held centrally and therefore it is not possible to provide average household charges prior to 200405. However, data is held on Band D household water and sewerage charges (which are higher than the average household charge) and this is provided in the following table.

  

 
 1996-97
 1997-98
 1998-99
 1999-2000
 2000-01
 2001-02
 2002-03
 2003-04


 Water Authority Area
£
£
£
£
£
£
£
£


 North
 Tayside
 81.50
 113.76
 158.52
 204.60
 299.58
 350.18
 350.18
 350.18


 Grampian
 97.00
 128.26
 170.52
 209.75
 299.58
 350.18
 350.18
 350.18


 Highland
 97.00
 128.26
 170.52
 209.75
 299.58
 350.18
 350.18
 350.18


 Western Isles
 120.50
 140.26
 170.52
 209.75
 299.58
 350.18
 350.18
 350.18


 Orkney
 120.50
 140.26
 170.52
 209.75
 299.58
 350.18
 350.18
 350.18


 Shetland
 120.50
 140.26
 170.52
 209.75
 299.58
 350.18
 350.18
 350.18


 East
 Borders
 95.50
 122.79
 157.23
 186.00
 227.00
 270.00
 292.77
 321.75


 Forth Valley
 52.50
 80.79
 128.73
 173.00
 227.00
 270.00
 292.77
 321.75


 Fife
 71.50
 101.79
 146.73
 177.50
 227.00
 270.00
 292.77
 321.75


 Edinburgh and Lothians
 95.50
 122.79
 157.23
 186.00
 227.00
 270.00
 292.77
 321.75


 North Lanarkshire and East Dunbartonshire
 92.00
 118.43
 155.33
 186.00
 227.00
 270.00
 292.77
 321.75


 Kinross
 81.50
 111.29
 146.73
 177.50
 227.00
 270.00
 292.77
 321.75


 West
 Dumfries and Galloway
 92.00
 118.43
 155.33
 189.10
 223.20
 266.40
 321.75
 321.75


 Strathclyde
 92.00
 118.43
 155.33
 189.10
 223.20
 266.40
 321.75
 321.75



  

 
 2004-05
 2005-06
 2006-07
 2007-08
 2008-09
 2009-10
 2010-11


 Water Authority Area
£
£
£
£
£
£
£


 North
 Tayside
 338.31
 347.76
 354.60
 365.85
 379.53
 393.57
 393.57


 Grampian
 338.31
 347.76
 354.60
 365.85
 379.53
 393.57
 393.57


 Highland
 338.31
 347.76
 354.60
 365.85
 379.53
 393.57
 393.57


 Western Isles
 338.31
 347.76
 354.60
 365.85
 379.53
 393.57
 393.57


 Orkney
 338.31
 347.76
 354.60
 365.85
 379.53
 393.57
 393.57


 Shetland
 338.31
 347.76
 354.60
 365.85
 379.53
 393.57
 393.57


 East
 Borders
 338.31
 347.76
 354.60
 365.85
 379.53
 393.57
 393.57


 Forth Valley
 338.31
 347.76
 354.60
 365.85
 379.53
 393.57
 393.57


 Fife
 338.31
 347.76
 354.60
 365.85
 379.53
 393.57
 393.57


 Edinburgh and Lothians
 338.31
 347.76
 354.60
 365.85
 379.53
 393.57
 393.57


 North Lanarkshire and East Dunbartonshire
 338.31
 347.76
 354.60
 365.85
 379.53
 393.57
 393.57


 Kinross
 338.31
 347.76
 354.60
 365.85
 379.53
 393.57
 393.57


 West
 Dumfries and Galloway
 338.31
 347.76
 354.60
 365.85
 379.53
 393.57
 393.57


 Strathclyde
 338.31
 347.76
 354.60
 365.85
 379.53
 393.57
 393.57



  Sources: Scottish Water, North, East and West of Scotland Water Authorities, Water Industry Commission for Scotland, Scottish Water and Sewerage Customers Council, The Scottish Office.

  Note: Prior to 1999 some areas do not include charges for sewerage.

  These amounts have been converted into 2010-11 prices (as at June 2010) using a Retail Price Index (RPI) inflator from the Office for National Statistics and are shown in the following table.

  

 
 1996-97
 1997-98
 1998-99
 1999-2000
 2000-01
 2001-02
 2002-03
 2003-04


 Water Authority Area
£
£
£
£
£
£
£
£


 North
 Tayside
 118.75
 160.04
 216.08
 275.88
 391.01
 449.46
 441.87
 430.00


 Grampian
 141.34
 180.43
 232.44
 282.82
 391.01
 449.46
 441.87
 430.00


 Highland
 141.34
 180.43
 232.44
 282.82
 391.01
 449.46
 441.87
 430.00


 Western Isles
 175.58
 197.31
 232.44
 282.82
 391.01
 449.46
 441.87
 430.00


 Orkney
 175.58
 197.31
 232.44
 282.82
 391.01
 449.46
 441.87
 430.00


 Shetland
 175.58
 197.31
 232.44
 282.82
 391.01
 449.46
 441.87
 430.00


 East
 Borders
 139.15
 172.74
 214.33
 250.80
 296.28
 346.55
 369.42
 395.09


 Forth Valley
 76.50
 113.65
 175.48
 233.27
 296.28
 346.55
 369.42
 395.09


 Fife
 104.18
 143.20
 200.01
 239.34
 296.28
 346.55
 369.42
 395.09


 Edinburgh and Lothians
 139.15
 172.74
 214.33
 250.80
 296.28
 346.55
 369.42
 395.09


 North Lanarkshire and East Dunbartonshire
 134.05
 166.60
 211.74
 250.80
 296.28
 346.55
 369.42
 395.09


 Kinross
 118.75
 156.56
 200.01
 239.34
 296.28
 346.55
 369.42
 395.09


 West
 Dumfries and Galloway
 134.05
 166.60
 211.74
 254.98
 291.32
 405.99
 405.99
 395.09


 Strathclyde
 134.05
 166.60
 211.74
 254.98
 291.32
 405.99
 405.99
 395.09



  

 
 2004-05
 2005-06
 2006-07
 2007-08
 2008-09
 2009-10
 2010-11


 Water Authority Area
£
£
£
£
£
£
£


 North
 Tayside
 403.06
 403.59
 397.13
 394.17
 389.44
 409.66
 393.57


 Grampian
 403.06
 403.59
 397.13
 394.17
 389.44
 409.66
 393.57


 Highland
 403.06
 403.59
 397.13
 394.17
 389.44
 409.66
 393.57


 Western Isles
 403.06
 403.59
 397.13
 394.17
 389.44
 409.66
 393.57


 Orkney
 403.06
 403.59
 397.13
 394.17
 389.44
 409.66
 393.57


 Shetland
 403.06
 403.59
 397.13
 394.17
 389.44
 409.66
 393.57


 East
 Borders
 403.06
 403.59
 397.13
 394.17
 389.44
 409.66
 393.57


 Forth Valley
 403.06
 403.59
 397.13
 394.17
 389.44
 409.66
 393.57


 Fife
 403.06
 403.59
 397.13
 394.17
 389.44
 409.66
 393.57


 Edinburgh and Lothians
 403.06
 403.59
 397.13
 394.17
 389.44
 409.66
 393.57


 North Lanarkshire and East Dunbartonshire
 403.06
 403.59
 397.13
 394.17
 389.44
 409.66
 393.57


 Kinross
 403.06
 403.59
 397.13
 394.17
 389.44
 409.66
 393.57


 West
 Dumfries and Galloway
 403.06
 403.59
 397.13
 394.17
 389.44
 409.66
 393.57


 Strathclyde
 403.06
 403.59
 397.13
 394.17
 389.44
 409.66
 393.57



  Note: 2010-11 equivalent prices have been calculated using the RPI at June 2010. Prices for previous financial years were using the rate calculated from the RPI at the midpoint (September) of the financial year.

  Unlike households, businesses vary hugely in size from small corner shops to large industrial installations. For this reason, average business charges have not been routinely calculated.